Dental hygiene dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dental hygiene dispenser mountable on a wall for dispensing a dentifrice onto a toothbrush. Modules suitable for holding cups, toothbrushes, and the like, are attachable to the dispenser as by hooks and mating openings. A collapsible dentifrice tube is arranged in a discharge element and engaged by a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on a carriage having portions threadingly engaging threaded rods turnable by a mechanism including gear wheels affixed to the threaded rods and racks associated with the gear wheels. The racks are pivotally mounted on a slidable support member having a projection extending through a slot in the dispenser housing arranged extending away from the discharge element. Movement of the projection as by a toothbrush turns the threaded rods and discharges dentifrice onto the toothbrush. The racks ride over the gear wheels against the bias of one spring as another spring returns the support member to its rest position.

Unite States atent i191 Vessio et al.

[ DENTAL HYGIENE DISPENSER [76] lnventorsz Robert J. Vessio, 10 AshwoodDr.;

Frank E. Valeri, 213 Lorraine PL; George M. Leask, Suburban Rd., all ofBrick Town, N.J.; Richard W. Peterson, Center Dr., Manasquan, NJ. 0872322 Filed: May 10, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 358,934

[52] US. Cl 222/96, 222/102, 222/105 [51] Int. Cl 865d 35/54 [58] Fieldof Search 222/102, 101, 105, 106, 222/96, 95, 93; 312/111; 74/30, 29

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,357 12/1936Ritterbusch 222/93 2,140,007 12/1938 Grandman 222/102 2,386,343 10/1945Regenhardt 312/111 2,837,243 6/1958 Zebnik 222/96 X 3,201,883 8/1965Schleisner-Meyer 312/111 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 521,9853/1955 Italy 222/93 557,074 2/1957 Italy 222/102 Fr-r1 .[f'u 3,86@,t47

[ 51 Jan.14,1975

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Charles A. MarmorAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57]ABSTRACT A dental hygiene dispenser mountable on a wall for dispensing adentifrice onto a toothbrush. Modules suitable for holding cups,toothbrushes, and the like, are attachable to the dispenser as by hooksand mating openings. A collapsible dentifrice tube is arranged in adischarge element and engaged by a pair of rollers rotatably mounted ona carriage having portions threadingly engaging threaded rods turnableby a mechanism including gear wheels affixed to the threaded rods andracks associated with the gear wheels. The racks are pivotally mountedon a slidable support member having a projection extending through aslot in the dispenser housing arranged extending away from the discharge element. Movement of the projection as by a toothbrush turns thethreaded rods and discharges dentifrice onto the toothbrush. The racksride over the gear wheels against the bias of one spring as anotherspring returns the support member to its rest position.

9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures Fr-rv DENTAL HYGIENE DISPENSER BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relatesgenerally to a dispenser system, and particularly to a dispenser fordentifrices and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has been proposed to providedispensers for dentrifrices. In particular, US. Pat. Nos. 2,004,015,2,064,357, and 2,712,400, for example, show dispensers using threadedrods as feed screws to advance one or more rollers along a collapsibletoothpaste tube when the rods are turned by a suitable actuatingmechanism.

The known mechanisms for achieving the desired roller advance, however,are complex in construction, with attendant cost and maintenanceproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a clean, efficient, and simple device for applying a dentifriceto a toothbrush.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedmechanism foractuating dispensing rollers used with collapsiblecontainers.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a dentalhygiene dispenser system affording sanitary storage of dentifrices,toothbrushes, cups, and the like.

These and other objects areachieved according to the present inventionby providing in a dispenser: a discharge element for mounting acollapsible container, a pair of rollers arranged engaging thecollapsible container for dispensing material from same upon an advanceof the rollers along the container, a pair of threaded rods threadinglyengagedwith acarriage rotatably supporting the rollers, and a mechanismfor selectively turning the threaded rodsand dispensing material fromthe container; the improvement wherein the mechanism for turning thethreaded rods includes a pair of gear wheels, a gear wheel mountedon arespective threaded rod for rotation therewith, a support memberslidably mounted on a dispenser frame and arranged for reciprocatingmovement with respect thereto, a pair of racks pivotally mountedon' thesupport member and arranged for engaging the gear wheels, and a springresilientlybiasing the racks against the gear wheels, the racksengagingandturning the gear wheels in one direction of movement of thesupport member and riding over the gear wheels in the return directionof movement.

A further spring is advantageously provided for'causing the supportmember to move in the other direction of movement to the initial, orrest, position of the support member.

An advantageous feature of a dental hygiene dispenser system accordingto the present invention is the provision of modules suitable forholding toothbrushes, cups, and the like, and having hooks engageable inopenings provided on a housing of the dispenser unit.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing adental hygiene dispenser system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an accessory module forming part ofa dental hygiene dispenser system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line77 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showingvarious elements in a moved position.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, with some parts removed, taken generallyalong the line 10-10 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a slidably arrangeable dispenseractuating member according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularlyto FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a dental hygiene dispenser system 10is formed by a dentifrice dispenser 12 and flanking modules l4 and 16.The modules are mounted on dispenser 12 as by a plurality of hooks 18provided on modules 14 and 16 and arranged for mating with openings 20provided on side walls of dispenser 12. These openings 20 are best shownin FIG. 3 of the drawings. Although modules 14 and 16 are illustrated asholding, for example, cups and toothbrushes, it is to be understood thatmodules may be provided suitable for holding any appropriate articles asdesired.

Dispenser 12 may be mounted on a wall 22 as by slots 24 (FIG. 4) andconventional screws 26. In this manner, dispenser 12 may be convenientlymounted as desired on a, for example, bathroom wall, and the like.

The basic construction of module 16 will now be discussed withreferenceto FIG. 2 of the drawings. Although only module 16 is beingdiscussed in any detail, it is to be understood that module 14 includesthe same basic components as module 16. Module 16 is formed by a frame28, a rear wall 30, and a door 32 pivotally mounted as by conventionalhinges 34. A handle 36 on door 32 facilitates opening and closing of thedoor. If desired, a conventional latch arrangement (not shown) may beprovided for retaining door 32 in a closed position. I-Iooks 18 may bearranged on a side wall portion of frame 28. The particular side wallportion on which hooks 18 are arranged is discretionary and depended onthe ultimate arrangement of modules and dispenser. Further, modules maybe hooked to modules in a manner not shown, but similar to that formodules 14 and 10, to increase storage space. Alternatively, widermodules (not shown) may be used.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 10 of the drawings, dispenser 12 has ahousing 38 formed by a frame 40, a rear wall 42, and a cover 44pivotally mounted on wall 42 as by conventional hinges 46. As is bestseen from FIG. 3 of the drawings, cover 44 also forms what wouldotherwise be the top portion of frame 40. The latter does include afloor 48 in which is defined a slot 50, the purpose of which will be setout below.

Floor 48 of frame 40 is provided with a bracket portion 51 provided withan opening into which a discharge element 52 is inserted. A collapsibledentifrice container in the form of a conventional toothpaste tube 54 isarranged with its discharge portion received in a threaded bore ofdischarge element 52. In this manner, a toothpaste tube 54 is mounted inhousing 38.

Tube .54 is engaged for purposes of having toothpaste, and the like,selectively dispensed from it by an arrangement including a pair ofthreaded rods 56 and 58 arranged in housing 38 extending between floor48 of frame 40 and a partition 59 forming a false cover or top portionof frame 40. A pair of rollers 60 and 62 are arranged extending betweenthreaded rods 56 and 58 and embracing tube 54. These rollers 60, 62 arerotatably mounted to the threaded rods for being advanced thereby as bya carriage 64 having spaced end portions with threaded bores 66 and 68,and an intermediate bracket portion 70 to which the rollers arerotatably mounted in a conventional manner. As can be readilyappreciated from the drawings, threaded bores 66 and 68 are arranged inthreaded engagement with threaded rods 56 and 58. A drive train 72 isconnected to the threaded rods for selectively turning same and movingrollers 60 and 62 in a plane parallel to the longitudinal extent of thethreaded rods.

Drive train 72 has a pair of gear wheels, provided with teeth suitableto the particular operation. Each gear wheel 74, 76 is mounted on arespective threaded rod 56, 58 for rotation therewith. A support member78 (FIG. 1 l) is slidably mounted in slot 50 of frame 40, and isarranged for reciprocating movement with respect to floor 48 of frame40. This support member 78 is provided with a projection 80 arrangedextending through 'slot 50 for being engaged by a toothbrush and movedin a direction turning threaded rods 56, 58 to deposit a quantity ofdentifrice on the toothbrush. A pair of racks 82, 84 are pivotallymounted on spaced portions of support member 78, and are arranged forengaging gear wheels 74, 76 due to the influence of a spring 86, whichmay be aconventional coiled compression spring, resiliently biasingracks 82, 84 against the gear wheels. This arrangement permits racks 82,84 to engage and turn gear wheels 74, 76 in one direction of movement ofsupport member 78, that direction being away from discharge element 52along the extent of slot 50, and to ride over gear wheels 74, 76 in thereturn direction of movement. The return direction of movement may befacilitated by a spring 88, which may be a'conventional coiled springmounted on pin 90 projecting from wall 42 and a pin 92 provided onsupport member 78.

FIGS. 3 and 9 of the drawings show a toothbrush 94 engaging a surface 96of projection 80 to move support member 78 in the direction causing aquantity of material, such as a dentifrice, to be dispensed from tube54. As can best be appreciated from the same figures of the drawings,slot 50 is arranged extending from the centrally located bore indischarge element 52 so that a dentifrice, and the like, will bedispensed on the bristles of a dispenser-actuating toothbrush 94. Apointed edge 97 is provided on sliding support member 78 to cut thedentifrice, and the like, off cleanly when support memher 78 is returnedto its normal, or rest, position under the bias of spring 88. Bracketportion 51 is provided with a recess matching pointed-edge 97 formatingly receiving the edge, as is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.Projection is sized to pass through the enlarged portion of slot 50, andbe retained in the narrower portion.

Bosses 98 and 100 are arranged on floor 48 of frame 40, and arefurnished with centrally located bores for receiving a shaft portion ofthreaded rods 56 and 58. The upper planar surface of bosses 98, 100 formbearing surfaces for gear wheels 74 and 76.

A gear assembly 102, best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, isarranged in housing 38 above partition 59. This gear assembly 102 haspinions 104 and 106 mounted on threaded rods 56 and 58, respectively,for rotation therewith. Gears 108 and 110 are mounted on partition 59for rotation with respect thereto, and are arranged meshing with oneanother and with pinions 104 and 106. A handle 112 is connected to oneof the gears, gear 110 being shown in the drawings, to permit manualmanipulation of gear assembly 102 to position carriage 64 relative to atube 54.

To install a dispenser system 10 according to the present invention,dispenser 12 is first mounted on a wall 22 as by screws 26 arranged inslots 24. Modules 14 and 16 may now be hooked onto dispenser 12 asdesired. Dispenser housing 38 may now be opened by rotating cover 44upwardly. A suitable handle (not shown) may be provided for this purposeas desired. A toothpaste tube 54, for example, may now be verticallypositioned as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 8, and 9 of the drawings. The tail orupper end of tube 54 is inserted between the two carriage rollers 60 and62, while the discharge end of tube 54 is inserted into dischargeelement 52 as by mating screw threads. Discharge element 52 may be inthe form of an adapter which is first screwed onto the discharge openingof tube 54 and then inserted into the bore provided in bracket portion51. In this manner, different size discharge elements 52 may be providedfor adapting various size toothpaste tubes to the dispenser.

Basically, toothpaste, and the like, is supplied to toothbrush 94bysimply pushing the bristle end of the toothbrush 94 against surface 96of projection 80. This causes a displacement of support member 78 whichexposes the hole through bracket portion 51 in discharge element 52.Support member 78 serves a dual purpose, in that it provides a stop forthe flow of dentifrice after a toothbrush stroke is completed, and itinitiates the actuation of the flow of dentifrice onto the toothbrush 94by its connection with the internal gearing system.

As the sliding support member 78 is pushed inward against spring 88,racks 82 and 84 are pulled into engagement with gear wheels 74 and 76which in turn rotate the threaded rods 56 and 58. Rotation of thethreaded rods transmits circular motion to a linear downward motion ofcarriage 64. The internal threads of the threaded bores 66 and 68 ofcarriage 64 mate with the threads of threaded rods 56 and 58 to causethis advance. As carriage 64 moves downward, tube 54, which is arrangedbetween the carriage rollers 60, 62, is squeezed uniformly inward. Inthis manner, the toothpaste, and the like, is forced out of the openingat the bottom of tube 54 through the discharge element 52 and theopening in bracket portion 51. The stroke of toothbrush 94 is directlyaligned with the opening,

thus enabling the toothpaste to flow evenly along the length of thebrush during the stroke.

As toothbrush 94 is retracted, spring 88 pushes the sliding supportmember 78 back to its original, or rest, position, thereby stopping thedentifrice flow. Threaded rods 56, 58'will not be rotated on the returnstroke of support member 78 due to the mechanism design. Spring 86forces the two ratchet arms against gear wheels 74, 76 during thedispensing stroke to ensure engagement of racks 82 and 84 with the gearwheels, but the design of the rack and gear wheel teeth causes the racksto ride over the gear wheel teeth against the bias of spring 86 on thereturn stroke.

To install a new tube 54 in dispenser 12, the old tube is first removedby cranking the gear assembly 102 arranged at the top of the cabinet orhousing 38. Racks 82 and 84 should be squeezed by hand toward oneanother against the bias of spring 86 during this cranking. Thisdisengages the racks from the gear wheels and enables free rotation ofthe threaded rods such that carriage 64 moves upward to the top of theassembly far enough to remove the used tube. Carriage 64 can now bere-located in a position as required by the size of the new tube orother collapsible container. operated As can be readily understood fromthe above description and from the drawings, a dispenser 12 provides asimple, efficient, and easily oeprated and maintained dentifricedispensing device capable of using standard toothpaste tubes, and thelike, while simultaneously providing a dental hygiene dispenser systempermitting suitable modules to be readily attached to the dispenser forincluding appropriate functions in the system as required and desired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a dispenser having means for mounting a collapsible container andmeans for engaging a container and selectively dispensing a materialfrom same, the engaging means including a mechanism for changing linearmotion to rotary motion, the improvement wherein the mechanism includesa pair of rotatably mounted gear wheels, a support member slidablymounted and arranged for reciprocating movement, a pair of rackspivotally mounted on the support member and arranged for engaging thegear wheels, and means for resiliently biasing the racks against thegear wheels, the racks engaging and turning the gear wheels in onedirection of movement of the support member and riding over the gearwheels in the return direction of movement.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the engaging means furtherincludes a pair of threaded rods arranged in a plane, a pair of rollersarranged extending between the threaded rods and embracing a container,a carriage having a pair of threaded hole portions each arranged inthreaded engagement with a respective threaded rod, and a bracketportion arranged for connecting adjacent ends of the rollers to thethreaded hole portions, and the threaded rods connected to the gearwheels for rotation therewith and thereby for selectively moving therollers in a plane parallel to the threaded rods.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the mounting meansincludes a frame, and a material discharge element mounted on the frameand arranged for receiving a discharge portion of the container.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the collapsible containeris a dentifrice tube, the frame is pro vided with a slot extending fromthe discharge nozzle, and the supporting member is provided with aprojection arranged extending through the slot for being engaged by atoothbrush and moved in a direction turning the threaded rods to deposita quantity of dentifrice on the toothbrush.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the turning means furtherincludes means for biasing the support member toward a rest position.

6. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the turning means furtherincludes means for biasing the support member toward a rest position.

7. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting meansincludes a frame, and a material discharge element mounted on the frameand arranged for receiving a discharge portion of the container.

8. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the collapsible containeris a dentifrice tube, the frame is provided with a slot extending fromthe discharge nozzle, and the supporting member is provided with aprojection arranged extending through the slot for being engaged by atoothbrush and moved in a direction turning the threaded rods to deposita quantity of dentifrice on the toothbrush.

9. A dental hygiene dispenser system, comprising, in combination:

a. a dentifrice dispenser provided with means for mounting same on awall, the dispenser including:

i. means for mounting a collapsible dentifrice container; and

ii. means for engaging the container and selectively dispensing adentifrice from same, the engaging means including a mechanism forchanging linear motion to rotary motion, the improvement wherein themechanism includes a pair of rotatably mounted gear wheels, a supportmember slidably mounted and arranged for reciprocating movement, a pairof racks pivotally mounted on the support member and arranged forengaging the gear wheels, and means for resiliently biasing the racksagainst the gear wheels, the racks engaging and turning the gear wheelsin one direction of movement of the support member and riding over thegear wheels in the return direction of movement; and

b. means for attaching accessory modules to the dentifrice dispenser,the attaching means including a hook provided on one of the dispenserand a module, and an opening arranged for receiving the hook provided onthe other of the dispenser and a module.

1. In a dispenser having means for mounting a collapsible container andmeans for engaging a container and selectively dispensing a materialfrom same, the engaging means including a mechanism for changing linearmotion to rotary motion, the improvement wherein the mechanism includesa pair of rotatably mounted gear wheels, a support member slidablymounted and arranged for reciprocating movement, a pair of rackspivotally mounted on the support member and arranged for engaging thegear wheels, and means for resiliently biasing the racks against thegear wheels, the racks engaging and turning the gear wheels in onedirection of movement of the support member and riding over the gearwheels in the return direction of movement.
 2. A structure as defined inclaim 1, wherein the engaging means further includes a pair of threadedrods arranged in a plane, a pair of rollers arranged extending betweenthe threaded rods and embracing a container, a carriage having a pair ofthreaded hole portions each arranged in threaded engagement with arespective threaded rod, and a bracket portion arranged for connectingadjacent ends of the rollers to the threaded hole portions, and thethreaded rods connected to the gear wheels for rotation therewith andthereby for selectively moving the rollers in a plane parallel to thethreaded rods.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein themounting means includes a frame, and a material discharge elementmounted on the frame and arranged for receiving a discharge portion ofthe container.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein thecollapsible container is a dentifrice tube, the frame is provided with aslot extending from the discharge nozzle, and the supporting member isprovided with a projection arranged extending through the slot for beingengaged by a toothbrush and moved in a direction turning the threadedrods to deposit a quantity of dentifrice on the toothbrush.
 5. Astructure as defined in claim 4, wherein the turning means furtherincludes means for biasing the support member toward a rest position. 6.A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the turning means furtherincludes means for biasing the support member toward a rest position. 7.A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting means includes aframe, and a material discharge element mounted on the frame andarranged for receiving a discharge portion of the container.
 8. Astructure as defined in claim 2, wherein the collapsible container is adentifrice tube, the frame is provided with a slot extending from thedischarge nozzle, and the supporting member is provided with aprojection arRanged extending through the slot for being engaged by atoothbrush and moved in a direction turning the threaded rods to deposita quantity of dentifrice on the toothbrush.
 9. A dental hygienedispenser system, comprising, in combination: a. a dentifrice dispenserprovided with means for mounting same on a wall, the dispenserincluding: i. means for mounting a collapsible dentifrice container; andii. means for engaging the container and selectively dispensing adentifrice from same, the engaging means including a mechanism forchanging linear motion to rotary motion, the improvement wherein themechanism includes a pair of rotatably mounted gear wheels, a supportmember slidably mounted and arranged for reciprocating movement, a pairof racks pivotally mounted on the support member and arranged forengaging the gear wheels, and means for resiliently biasing the racksagainst the gear wheels, the racks engaging and turning the gear wheelsin one direction of movement of the support member and riding over thegear wheels in the return direction of movement; and b. means forattaching accessory modules to the dentifrice dispenser, the attachingmeans including a hook provided on one of the dispenser and a module,and an opening arranged for receiving the hook provided on the other ofthe dispenser and a module.